Kelly Stafford, wife of NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford, recently discussed challenges she is facing with one of her four daughters’ behavior. On her podcast “The Morning After,” Stafford said she has “been very, very much struggling with” one of her daughters.
Stafford and her husband have four children: 8-year-old twins Sawyer and Chandler, 7-year-old Hunter, and 5-year-old Tyler. She described how one daughter’s actions have changed. “Has become a little girl that I don’t recognize right now,” Stafford said.
She explained that while it is common for children to act out at home, the issues have started to affect other areas of life. According to Stafford, her daughter has been “disrespecting coaches and not listening, giving attitude, walking away while they’re talking to her.” She also mentioned bullying among siblings. Recalling an incident between two daughters, Stafford said: “Tyler looks at her and said, ‘Wow, you look really pretty in that outfit,’” but the daughter replied “‘You look gross.’”
Stafford talked about trying different approaches to address the behavior. “I’m trying to be mild with it,” she said. “I have tried sending you to your room. I’ve tried taking things away. I have tried just talking to you like a young woman that you are. Nothing is working. I’m exhausted, and I told her I was like, it’s not fair to your sisters that all of my energy right now is going to you every day.”
She asked her daughter directly about the reasons behind the behavior: “‘You are causing issues. I don’t know if it’s for attention. Tell me, do you need more from me? Is there something going on in your life that I’m not aware of?’” The daughter responded by saying she does not know why she behaves this way.
Stafford reassured her child: “I love you so much, but we’re gonna have to figure this out.” She then set a consequence for further incidents: “If anything happens again like this, where I just see you being mean and a bully for no reason, the walk to school takes 30 minutes,” Stafford shared. “You will be walking every morning and every afternoon so you can clear your head.”
After another incident at school during the third day back in session, Stafford had her daughter walk home as a disciplinary measure. She admitted feeling emotional about the decision: “Stafford admitted she cried the whole time her daughter was walking home. And my (other) daughters cried when I left her, but I was like, ‘I don’t know what to do.’”
Reflecting on parenting challenges with multiple children who behave differently, Stafford said: “I don’t know if it’s because I also have comparisons of girls who are so sweet and kind and do the right things and try to at least,” adding concerns about stereotypes regarding rebellious children.
Following the podcast episode release, Stafford posted on Instagram thanking parents for their advice: “I greatly appreciate all the advice” she wrote in an Instagram Story update. “I am looking into all of it. I want to make sure this is just a phase and nothing more. Thank you for all the support.”
